As we look towards 2021, we at Oxfam Ireland would like to acknowledge the generosity of the people of Galway throughout one of the most challenging years we have faced as a global community.
Against the backdrop of a worldwide pandemic, you still found ways to support our work – through generous donations, campaigning, volunteering, or visiting your local Oxfam shop. We want you to know that you have played an important role in our mission to end the injustice of poverty – as well as our response to Covid-19 across the world – and for that, we thank you.
Sadly, this year has significantly set back some of the progress we have made together across the world. For the first time in 22 years, extreme poverty has increased and with that the number of people struggling to survive.
An estimated 270 million children, women and men will go to sleep hungry each night as the new year begins; while, increased unemployment, particularly in informal sectors, and the increased need for additional care duties due to lockdowns and school closures will continue to hit women and girls hardest, once again.
The climate emergency continues at pace and this year also saw an increase in severe weather events and natural disasters – increasing risks and hardship for already vulnerable communities and businesses.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it is our interconnectedness as people, our relationship to the living world, and how fragile our systems are when confronted by something outside of our control.
We promise to keep working hard to tackle the inequalities and injustices that drive poverty across the world, to be there to help people build back better when disaster strikes and to support people to lift themselves out of poverty and thrive.
But we couldn’t make this promise without you – our supporters. You give us reason to hope.
Wishing the people of Galway a safe and peaceful holiday season.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Clarken
Chief Executive of Oxfam Ireland
